Iraq Oil Exports Stand at 3.4 Mln bpd in Sep

Iraqi flag in front of an oil field. (AFP)
Iraqi flag in front of an oil field. (AFP)
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Iraq Oil Exports Stand at 3.4 Mln bpd in Sep

Iraqi flag in front of an oil field. (AFP)
Iraqi flag in front of an oil field. (AFP)

Iraq exported 103,143,199 million barrels of crude oil in September, generating 9.5 billion US dollars in revenue, the country's Oil Ministry announced on Sunday.

The average price of Iraqi crude oil in Sep. was 92.05 dollars per barrel, the ministry said in a statement, citing statistics from the State Organization for Marketing of Oil (SOMO), an Iraqi company.

The average of exported quantities stood at 3,438,000 bpd in September.

The crude oil barrels were exported from oil fields in central and southern Iraq to neighboring Jordan during the month.

Iraqi oil exports from Kirkuk and the Kurdistan region through the Kirkuk–Ceyhan Oil Pipeline remained suspended since the end of March upon a decision by the Turkish authority after an international court decided that SOMO is the only entity authorized to manage export operations through the Turkish port of Ceyhan.

Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani stressed Sunday the necessity of completing expansion and maintenance projects for Iraqi oil ports.

During a meeting to follow up on projects and plans for developing the oil sector, Sudani stressed the importance of completing gas projects and expanding investment in Iraqi fields producing natural gas, for the purpose of supplying power stations and national fertilizer-producing factories with their gas needs.

The Iraqi PM further underscored the necessity of completing the refinery projects as quickly as possible, in order to reach self-sufficiency in oil derivatives and fuel.

Iraq’s Oil Ministry announced last week the increase in production capacity at the Karbala refinery to 140,000 bpd.



Gold Prices Climb on Safe-Haven Demand; US Payrolls Data in Focus

Gold bullion displayed in a store in the German city of Pforzheim (dpa)
Gold bullion displayed in a store in the German city of Pforzheim (dpa)
TT

Gold Prices Climb on Safe-Haven Demand; US Payrolls Data in Focus

Gold bullion displayed in a store in the German city of Pforzheim (dpa)
Gold bullion displayed in a store in the German city of Pforzheim (dpa)

Gold prices climbed on Friday, supported by safe-haven demand arising from the Middle East conflict, while spotlight shifted towards US payrolls report to gauge the trajectory of the Federal Reserve's policy path.
Spot gold was up 0.3% at $2,662.50 per ounce, as of 0325 GMT, after climbing to an all-time high of $2,685.42 on Sept. 26. Bullion has gained 0.2 for the week.
US gold futures edged 0.1% higher to $2,682.10.
The dollar eased 0.1%, pulling back from over a one-month high, making greenback-priced bullion less expensive for other currency holders, reported Reuters.
Geopolitical tensions, particularly concerning Israel and Iran, are supporting gold prices and unless these risks subside, prices are likely to remain near record levels, said Ajay Kedia, director at Kedia Commodities, Mumbai.
The US is discussing strikes on Iran's oil facilities as retaliation for Tehran's missile attack on Israel, President Joe Biden said, while Israel's military hit Beirut with new air strikes in its battle against Lebanese armed group Hezbollah.
Bullion is considered a safe investment during times of political and financial uncertainty, and thrives in a low-rate environment.
The US nonfarm payroll data is due at 1230 GMT. New York Fed President John Williams and Chicago Fed President Austan are also scheduled to speak later in the day.
If the NFP report comes in strong, it will be positive for the dollar and then gold prices will see some profit-booking, Kedia added.
Traders see a 69% chance of a 25-basis-point Fed rate cut in November, according to CME FedWatch Tool.
BMI said in a note it expects gold prices to trade within the range of $2,500 to $2,800 in the coming months.
Spot silver rose 0.4% to $32.17 per ounce and has gained about 1.8% so far this week.
Platinum climbed 1.1% to $1,001.79 and palladium advanced 1.4% to $1,013.46.